A SINGLE mum today thanked the caring Lancashire Evening Telegraph reader who restored her faith in people after a burglar stole her three-year-old son's Christmas presents from beneath the tree.

Clare King paid tribute to the mystery reader who anonymously dropped off £50 for replacement gifts in an envelope addressed to her son, Jordon, at our offices in High Street, Blackburn.

The reader made the donation shortly after a report about the burglary appeared in Monday's Lancashire Evening Telegraph.

In the report, Clare, 24, of Parklands Way, Livesey, Blackburn, told how wrapped presents -- toys for son, Jordon, clothes for her sister, Catherine, and a watch for her mum, Karen -- were stolen from under the tree.

She also appealed for the burglars to find it in their hearts to return the items as she could not afford to replace them.

Today, she spoke of her gratitude to the reader.

She said: "Since the burglary my mum and friends gave me a ten pound note each, so I only had £20 for Jordon.

"This extra money means I can give him a decent Christmas.

"I am very surprised. It is very nice of that person.

"Whoever it was has a heart of gold. It has cheered me up a lot.

"In a few days I have experienced the best and worst of people. Now I am seeing the nice side of human nature.

"People like that need praising.

"We didn't tell Jordon his gifts had been stolen -- so now he never needs to know."